Using the DEMATEL-VIKOR Method in Dam Failure Path Identification

Yantao Zhu, Xinqiang Niu, Chongshi Gu, Dashan Yang, Qiang Sun and E. Fernandez Rodriguez
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Yantao Zhu: State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Xinqiang Niu: Changjiang Institute of Survey, Planning, Design and Research, Wuhan 430010, China
Chongshi Gu: State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Dashan Yang: State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Qiang Sun: CCCC Third Harbor Engineering Co. Ltd., Shanghai 200032, China
E. Fernandez Rodriguez: Technological Institute of Merida, Technological Avenue, Merida 97219, Mexico

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-21

Abstract: Dams are important water-resisting structures prone to failure, causing huge economic and environmental losses. Traditionally, a dam failure is identified using the failure mode and effect analysis. This approach analyzes both the dam failure path (the specific effect chain of the failure mode) and the damage degree, by identifying and sorting the severity caused by the dam failure path. However, this analysis can be misleading since the relationship among the failure paths is not considered. To account for this, the DEMATEL method is used to modify the evaluation result of the severity of the failure consequence, caused by the dam failure path. Based on the fuzzy mathematics and VIKOR method, a dam failure path identification method is established, and then the dam failure paths are identified and sorted for a case study: gravity dam located at the junction of Yibin County (China). According to results, the two top initial failure paths were insufficient design of upstream anti-seepage (R6) or defective water-tight screen and corrosion (R7).

Keywords: dam; failure path identification; VIKOR; DEMATEL; failure mode (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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